Why cats can have it
Pumpkin is not toxic to cats. Cooked pumpkin contains fibre and water, it is soft and easy to digest, so a small piece does a cat no harm.
A cat has no need for vegetables, so pumpkin is only ever a treat. Some owners give it for digestion, but if a cat has diarrhoea or cannot pass stool, a vet needs to find the cause. Pumpkin pie filling and sweetened pumpkin purée with sugar or spices are not suitable for cats.
How to give it
- Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds and boil or bake it with no salt.
- Mash it or cut it into small, soft pieces.
- If you buy it canned, choose plain pumpkin purée with no sugar or spices.
- The first time, give very little.
What to watch out for
- Too much can cause diarrhoea.
- Raw pumpkin is hard and difficult to digest.
- Pie filling and sweetened purée contain sugar and spices that are not suitable for cats.
- The skin and seeds can get stuck in the throat or gut.
Different parts
Not every part of this food is equally safe.
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Cooked flesh
SafePlain cooked pumpkin flesh is fine in small pieces.
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Skin
Not safeThe skin is hard and difficult to digest, so it is better not to give it.
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Seeds
Not safeSeeds can get stuck in the throat, and roasted ones are salted.
What to give instead
- Carrots Yes, plain cooked carrot is harmless to cats, but cats have no need for vegetables, so give it only as a small treat. Safe
- Cucumbers Yes, a small piece of fresh cucumber is harmless to cats, but pickled cucumbers are not suitable for them. Safe
- Chicken Yes, plain cooked chicken without bones, skin or seasoning is one of the best treats you can give a cat. Safe
Looking for a treat?
The "Cat treats" category compares prices for 3,884 products across shops. It is a product category, not a recommendation of what to give.